Shadow People

[Verse 1]
Midnight, fan barely turning
Old truck keys on the floor
You were breathing slow beside me
Like you’d been through this before
Then the room got cold and heavy
Dark shapes crawling up my spine
I could feel them crowd around us
But your arm pulled me in tight
[Chorus]
My protector, my wild one
Holding on while the dark things come
You were wrestling ghosts in your sleep for me
Every shadow tried to climb this bed
But they broke like waves on your chest instead
Yeah, you fought ‘em back so I could finally breathe
My protector
You protected me
[Verse 2]
They piled high on our blankets
I felt fingers on my feet
I heard whispers in the corners
Saw ‘em gathering like a sheet
You just tightened up your shoulders
Jaw set hard, eyes still closed
Murmured “stay right here, I got you”
Like you’d outlawed every ghost
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
[low vocal register] You kicked and turned like you were swinging
At demons only you could see
I shook and shook but never woke you
Guess you were too busy saving me
[full voice] If they come back, let ‘em come then
I’ve seen what you can do half-awake
If this is war in rumpled covers
You’re the line they’ll never break
[Chorus]

country, Moody outlaw-country pop with female vocals; brushed kit and twangy tremolo guitar in the verses, pulsing bass and big claps in the chorus. Slide guitar cries in the background; chorus opens up with stacked harmonies and a wide, cinematic lift. Bridge drops to near-whisper over sparse picked guitar, then swells back with a gritty, defiant final hook., pop, sleep